Apparatus for the distillation of hydrocarbon oils



M. G. PAULUS ET Al.

APmul-ws FOR THE DISTILLA'I'ION 0F anmocmnqu OILS Filed Feb. 27. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,615,400 1927' M. e. PAULUS ET AL I v APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION 0F HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Feb. 27, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 25 1.927.- A

umran STATES 1,615,460 PATENT OFFICE.

HAZ'G. PAULUS AND OS'WALD G. BREWSTER, 0F CASPER, WYOMING, ASSIGNOES TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, OF WRITING, INDIANA, AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COB- PORATION OF INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBON 0118.

Application filed February 27, 1924. Serial No. 695,459.

The present invention relates to improvements in the fractional distillation of hydrocarbon oils, and will be clearly understood from the following description, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing an arrangement of devices for carrying the present invention into eflt'ect;

Fig. 2 isa transverse sectional view through fractionating column shown in Fig. 1, on the line 22 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a broken transverse section of a portion of the fractionati'ng column.

Referring more particularly-to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a portion of a still in which the material to be fractionated is charged. This material may suitably be crude petroleum or a fraction thereof, for

example, a naphtha distillate containing both gasoline and kerosene fractions. From the still 5 a va or line 6 leads to a fractionating column suitably formed of a number of superimposed sections the construction of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth. From the column 7 a vapor line 8 leads the vapors to a vapor manifold or header 9. From this vapor manifold 9 a suitable number of branch lines (designated as 10, 11, 12 and 13) lead to condenser worms 14 ina condenser box 15. --From these worms lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 lead to a manifold 20 provided with valves 21 for controlling the flow of the condensates from theseveral worms. From the manifold 21 a reflux line 22 leads back to the column 7 and another line 23 leads to a suitable receiving drum 24. a

The construction of the tower 7 is shown -in'Figs. 2 and 3. The column 7 is divided into a number of superimposed sections 7" by the transverse partitions 25, each of which is rovided with a central opening 27 around w 'ch is a cylindrical wall or riser 28. A rotatable shaft 29 asses centrally through the openings 27 in t e partitions 26, being mounte in a step bearing not shown in the base of the tower and extending upwardly through a-stufiing-box 31 in the top of the column, for connection in any desired manner with a driving means, for example, an electric motor. Secured to the shaft 29 above the transverse partitions 26 is a ca orbell 33, having a suspended cylindrica skirt 34 surrounding the cylindrical riser or wall 28 and dipping below the level of the liquid on the partitions 26, maintained by the riser 28 and the overflow pipes herein after referred to. The lower portion of this I cylindrical skirt 34 is slitted vertically, and

the slit portions are bent inwardly and. forwardly (relative to the direction of-movement of the cap or hell) therebyzforming openings 35 and forwardly directed vanes 36. On rotation of the shaft and of the bells or caps 33in the direction indicated by the arrow 1n Fig. 2, it is readily apparent the vanes 36 will tend to cause an outward movement of the liquid present on the transverse partltion 26 as well as impart to it a whirling or rotary movement.

Surrounding the .central cylindrical riser 28 is astationary baflle pan 37 having a central opening somewhat larger than the cylindrical riser 28. This bafile pan may suitably rest upon small lugs or projections 38, which raise it slightly above the transverse partition 26, permitting flow of 1i uid therebetween. The walls of the ba e on 37, which may suitably be cylindrical in orm, extend upwardly not-quite to the-top of the cap or bell 33, and are then turned inwardly,

and downwardly to near the upper surface of the next lower pprtition, terminating within a cup formed a curved vertically disposed plate 44, whic rests upon the upper surface of the transverse partition 26 and 3{pay suitably be secured to the baflle pan a -Under operating conditions, .the still 5 is suitably heated elther by direct fire or by the injection'o steam or both, and the vapors passing therefrom enter the fractionatmgcolumn Within the column? alayer of liquid is maintained on each of the transverse partitions 26, the height of this layer being determined by the height of the overflow pipe as. Vapors rise through the central openings 27 in the transverse partitions 26. The bells or caps 33 force the va ors downinto contact with the liquid, an by their rotation, cause a thorough intermingling of liquid and vapors. The rotation of the bells 33 produces a whirling movement of the liquid on the transverse partitions 26 and, by the action of theopenings 35 and vanes 36, also causes an outward movement of the liquid. The liquid is thus whirled about within the baflle pan 37 and, at the same time, driven outwardly toward the walls of the latter. The tendency of the liquid to form vortices is checked by the downwardly projecting vanes 40 formed in the top or cover portion of the baflie'p'an 37 The outward movement of the liquid causes it to pass outwardly through the openings 11 in the side walls of the baflle pan 37 and it returns to the interior of the bell or cup 33,

in which there is a reducedpressure, through the space between the bottom of the battle pan 37 and the upper surface of the transverse partition 26. Thus a'continuous circulation of the reflux liquid, as well as a rotary movement causing thorough intermixture between vapor and mixture, is produced. From the bottom of the column 7', reflux liquid returns to the still through the vapor line 6.

From the top of the column vapors ass out through the vapor line 8 to the maniold 9, and portions thereof pass through each of the va or" lines 10, 11, 12 and 13 to the oorrespon ing condensing worms 14 and the condensate lines 16, 17, 18 and 19. The branch vapor lines 10,11, 12 and 13 are each valved, the passage of vapors therethrough being hence controllable.

- By means of the control valves 21, theoendensates passing through the lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 may, at will'be directed to the receiving tank 24, or may be returned through the runback line 22 to the baflie pan'of the tower or column 7 In normal operation, the condensate from one or more of the branch vapor lines above described is returned to the reflux column. 4 We claim:

1. In a ,fractionating column, a transverse partition having a vapor assage therethrough, means for retaining a ody 0 liquid on said partition, a cap over said vapor opening, said cap havingan opening beneaththe liquid level, means' for rotating said cap, and means exterior to said cap for prevtntingv formation of vortices in the 2. A fractionating column having a transverse partition, said partition being proaerated vided with a vapor passage, means for retaining a body of liquid on the transverse partition, a cap over said va or passage and extending below the liquid level, lateral openings in the walls of said cap below the liquid level, and stationary means having vane-like members located outwardly of the side walls of the cap and curving downwardly toward the transverse partition, said means tending to break vortices formed by rotation of the cap.

3. A fractionating column having transverse partitions provided with vapor pas-- sages, means for retaining a liquid body on said transverse partitions, caps surmounting the vapor passages and extending'downwardly below the liquid level, said caps being provided with lateral openings below the level of the liquid and inwardly directed vanes at said openings, bafl'le pans surrounding said caps and having their bottoms s aced from the top of the transverse partitions,-lateral openings being provided in said baflie pans, and means for rotating said caps whereby a circulation of the liquid through the openings in the bafiie pans and 1 provided with openings, and a cover por tion formed on said baffle pan, said covered portion being provided with downwardly directed members, and means for rotating the caps.

5. The combination with a still, of a fractionating column, a vapor line leading from said column, a plurality of branch vapor lines leading from said vaporline, means for condensing vapors .passin through said branch vapor lines, a mani old communicating with said branch vapor lines at their lower extremities, a liquid return pipe from f said manifold to said fractionating column and valves in said manifold between said branch vapor lines, whereby a part of the condensate from said vapor lines may be caused to flow by gravity through said liq MAX e. PAULUS. oswALn o. BREWSTER.

' uid return pipe to the column. v 

